Mamali Shafani b. 1982

Mamali Shafahi (b. 1982, based in Paris and Tehran) is a filmmaker and visual artist known
for his immersive, mixed-media installations that combine sound and light to create visual feasts adorned with enigmatic chimeras that defy categorization. His works reflect the complexities of cultural diversity and identity, shattering stereotypes and inviting viewers to explore the richness beneath the surface. Rooted in his Iranian heritage, they offer an escape into realms of fantasy, seamlessly blending the magical with the terrifying, and fantasy with horror, all within a mesmerizing world of optical illusions.

As part of his long-term project Daddy Sperm, Shafahi created the experimental docu-fiction film Nature Morte, featuring his parents. This work became the backbone of an installation at City Princes/ses at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris in 2019. His VR collaboration with Ali Eslami,
nerd_funk, has been showcased at Het Nieuwe Instituut (Rotterdam), the Vancouver Biennale, and IDFA, earning the Golden Calf for Best Interactive Film at the Netherlands Film Festival. Following this success, he was a guest resident at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam.

In 2024, Shafahi embarked on a collaboration with his partner Domenico Gutknecht (b. 1987), titled Rest in Peace, further expanding his multidisciplinary practice.